Bluejays drop nail-biter to Bethany
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Through five games and four losses, at least two things have gone right for the Tabor College Bluejays. They've gotten to the games on time and they've fought until the bitter end. Outside of that, it's been a rough year.
Saturday, first-year Bluejay coach Mike Gottsch and Tabor met another of the KCAC's three rookie coaches with Jamie Cruce's Bethany Swedes in town at a near empty Reimer Field.
Chalk up another "close, but not close enough" game for the Bluejays (1-4, 0-4 KCAC) who fumbled away another chance at a victory late in the game with Bethany (4-1, 3-1 KCAC) escaping, 29-27.
The Bluejays had one last chance to win the game against a Swede defense that ranks 10th in the NAIA with just more than two minutes left in the game with Tabor down by the final margin.
Caleb Marsh matched a career-day, snaring three touchdowns and a game-high 130 yards.
But the Swedes smothered Marsh on two of the final three shots at a first down, forcing Tabor to turn the ball over on downs to allow Bethany to secure the win.
The Bluejays outplayed the Swedes everywhere but on the scoreboard with Tabor out-gaining Bethany in total offense by nearly 100 yards, 380-287.
Jason Aubrey threw for 207 yards and all three of his touchdowns to Marsh, but his two interceptions cost Tabor 10 points.
Demetrius Cox carried the ball 19 times for a game-high 119 yards to pace a 173-yard attack on the ground, which bettered Bethany's by 42 yards.
Cox put Tabor in front on its opening drive, taking in his only touchdown — a 32-yarder — to cap off an eight-play, 65-yard drive.
Tabor has battled protecting leads though, and it did on the ensuing series with the aid of a personal foul.
It allowed Swede quarterback Kawika Kalawe to hit Robert Bieger for the first six of 19 unanswered points for Bethany.
The Bluejays lead collapsed with 2:20 left in the first quarter as Jonathan Alvarez hit a 35-yard field to give Bethany a 9-7 lead.
Tabor was battling uphill until there was 11:31 left in the game when Aubrey hit Marsh for a 26-yard go-ahead touchdown to recapture the lead, 20-19.
Alvarez put Bethany back on top to stay, though, 22-20, booting a 27-yard field goal before Aubrey's fumble forced Tabor to need two scores to win in the final 5:38.
The Bluejays got one with Marsh and Aubrey hooking up again for a 30-yard score with just less than 4:00 left for the final.
Tabor faces a long trip Saturday to Leavenworth, but a beatable opponent in the St. Mary Spires with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
